Psalms 12-18
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 12
1 Help, Lord, for the godly person has come to an end, For the faithful have disappeared from the sons of mankind. 2They speak lies to one another; They speak with flattering lips and a double heart. 3May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaks great things; 4Who have said, 'With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?' 5'Because of the devastation of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise,' says the Lord; 'I will put him in the safety for which he longs.' 6The words of the Lord are pure words; Like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, filtered seven times. 7You, Lord, will keep them; You will protect him from this generation forever. 8The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of mankind.Chapter 13
1How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2How long am I to feel anxious in my soul, With grief in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? 3Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4And my enemy will say, 'I have overcome him,' And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. 5But I have trusted in Your faithfulness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6I will sing to the Lord, Because He has looked after me.Chapter 14
1The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts; There is no one who does good. 2The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind To see if there are any who understand, Who seek God. 3They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. 4Do all the workers of injustice not know, Who devour my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon the Lord? 5There they are in great dread, For God is with a righteous generation. 6You would put to shame the plan of the poor, But the Lord is his refuge. 7Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of His people, Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.Chapter 15
1Lord, who may reside in Your tent? Who may settle on Your holy hill? 2One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. 3He does not slander with his tongue, Nor do evil to his neighbor, Nor bring shame on his friend; 4A despicable person is despised in his eyes, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He takes an oath to his own detriment, and does not change; 5He does not lend his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. One who does these things will never be shaken.Chapter 16
1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You. 2 I said to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides You.' 3As for the saints who are on the earth, They are the majestic ones; all my delight is in them. 4 The pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips. 5The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. 6The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me. 7I will bless the Lord who has advised me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. 8I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 11You will make known to me the way of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.Chapter 17
1Hear a just cause, Lord, give Your attention to my cry; Listen to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips. 2Let my judgment come forth from Your presence; Let Your eyes look with integrity. 3You have put my heart to the test; You have visited me by night; You have sifted me and You find nothing; My intent is that my mouth will not offend. 4As for the works of mankind, by the word of Your lips I have kept from the ways of the violent. 5My steps have held to Your paths. My feet have not slipped. 6I have called upon You, for You will answer me, God; Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech. 7Show Your wonderful faithfulness, Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand From those who rise up against them. 8Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings 9From the wicked who deal violently with me, My deadly enemies who surround me. 10They have closed their unfeeling hearts, With their mouths they speak proudly. 11They have now surrounded us in our steps; They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground. 12He is like a lion that is eager to tear, And as a young lion lurking in secret places. 13Arise, Lord, confront him, make him bow down; Save my soul from the wicked with Your sword, 14From people by Your hand, Lord, From people of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babies. 15As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.Chapter 18
1 'I love You, Lord, my strength.' 2The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my savior, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. 4The ropes of death encompassed me, And the torrents of destruction terrified me. 5The ropes of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 6In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears. 7Then the earth shook and quaked; And the foundations of the mountains were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry. 8Smoke went up out of His nostrils, And fire from His mouth was devouring; Coals burned from it. 9He also bowed the heavens down low, and came down With thick darkness under His feet. 10He rode on a cherub and flew; And He sped on the wings of the wind. 11He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds. 12From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds, Hailstones and coals of fire. 13The Lord also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. 14He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them. 15Then the channels of water appeared, And the foundations of the world were exposed By Your rebuke, Lord, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. 16He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. 17He saved me from my strong enemy, And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 18They confronted me in the day of my disaster, But the Lord was my support. 19He also brought me out into an open place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. 20The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has repaid me. 21For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not acted wickedly against my God. 22For all His judgments were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me. 23I was also blameless with Him, And I kept myself from my wrongdoing. 24Therefore the Lord has repaid me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes. 25With the faithful You show Yourself faithful; With the blameless You prove Yourself blameless; 26With the pure You show Yourself pure, And with the crooked You show Yourself astute. 27For You save an afflicted people, But You humiliate haughty eyes. 28For You light my lamp; The Lord my God illumines my darkness. 29For by You I can run at a troop of warriors; And by my God I can leap over a wall. 30As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the Lord is refined; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. 31For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God, 32The God who encircles me with strength, And makes my way blameless? 33He makes my feet like deer’s feet, And sets me up on my high places. 34He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great. 36You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped. 37I pursued my enemies and overtook them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed. 38I shattered them, so that they were not able to rise; They fell under my feet. 39For You have encircled me with strength for battle; You have forced those who rose up against me to bow down under me. 40You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, And I destroyed those who hated me. 41They cried for help, but there was no one to save, They cried to the Lord, but He did not answer them. 42Then I beat them fine like the dust before the wind; I emptied them out like the mud of the streets. 43You have rescued me from the contentions of the people; You have placed me as head of the nations; A people whom I have not known serve me. 44As soon as they hear, they obey me; Foreigners pretend to obey me. 45Foreigners lose heart, And come trembling out of their fortresses. 46The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation, 47The God who executes vengeance for me, And subdues peoples under me. 48He rescues me from my enemies; You indeed lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from a violent man. 49Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, Lord, And I will sing praises to Your name. 50He gives great salvation to His king, And shows faithfulness to His anointed, To David and his descendants forever.King James Version
5But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
Chapter 15
1A Psalm of David. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
13Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
37I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 12
1For the choir director: according to Sheminith . A psalm of David. Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race. 2They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts. 3May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks boastfully.
6The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.
7You, Lord, will guard us; you will protect us from this generation forever.
8The wicked prowl all around, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.
2How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me?
3Consider me and answer, Lord my God. Restore brightness to my eyes; otherwise, I will sleep in death.
4My enemy will say, "I have triumphed over him," and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
5But I have trusted in your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in your deliverance.
6I will sing to the Lord because he has treated me generously.
Chapter 14
1For the choir director. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There’s no God." They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good. 2The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God.
4Will evildoers never understand? They consume my people as they consume bread; they do not call on the Lord.
5Then they will be filled with dread, for God is with those who are righteous.
6You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the Lord is his refuge.
7Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
Chapter 15
1A psalm of David. Lord, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain? 2The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart — 3who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor, 4who despises the one rejected by the Lord but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his word whatever the cost, 5who does not lend his silver at interest or take a bribe against the innocent — the one who does these things will never be shaken.Chapter 16
1A Miktam of David. Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you. 2I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you." 3As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones. All my delight is in them.
4The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves will multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips.
5 Lord, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future.
6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7I will bless the Lord who counsels me — even at night when my thoughts trouble me.
8I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely.
10For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
11You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Chapter 17
1A prayer of David. Lord, hear a just cause; pay attention to my cry; listen to my prayer— from lips free of deceit. 2Let my vindication come from you, for you see what is right. 3You have tested my heart; you have examined me at night. You have tried me and found nothing evil; I have determined that my mouth will not sin. 4Concerning what people do: by the words from your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5My steps are on your paths; my feet have not slipped.
6I call on you, God, because you will answer me; listen closely to me; hear what I say.
7Display the wonders of your faithful love, Savior of all who seek refuge from those who rebel against your right hand.
8Protect me as the pupil of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
9from the wicked who treat me violently, my deadly enemies who surround me.
10They are uncaring; their mouths speak arrogantly.
11They advance against me; now they surround me. They are determined to throw me to the ground.
12They are like a lion eager to tear, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13Rise up, Lord! Confront him; bring him down. With your sword, save me from the wicked.
14With your hand, Lord, save me from men, from men of the world whose portion is in this life: You fill their bellies with what you have in store; their sons are satisfied, and they leave their surplus to their children.
15But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
Chapter 18
1For the choir director. Of the servant of the Lord, David, who spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from the grasp of all his enemies and from the power of Saul. He said: I love you, Lord, my strength. 2The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.
4The ropes of death were wrapped around me; the torrents of destruction terrified me.
5The ropes of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
6I called to the Lord in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
7Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the mountains trembled; they shook because he burned with anger.
8Smoke rose from his nostrils, and consuming fire came from his mouth; coals were set ablaze by it.
9He bent the heavens and came down, total darkness beneath his feet.
10He rode on a cherub and flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his hiding place, dark storm clouds his canopy around him.
12From the radiance of his presence, his clouds swept onward with hail and blazing coals.
13The Lord thundered from heaven; the Most High made his voice heard.
14He shot his arrows and scattered them; he hurled lightning bolts and routed them.
15The depths of the sea became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed, at your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he pulled me out of deep water.
17He rescued me from my powerful enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
18They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.
19He brought me out to a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
20The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; he repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
21For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not turned from my God to wickedness.
22Indeed, I let all his ordinances guide me and have not disregarded his statutes.
23I was blameless toward him and kept myself from my iniquity.
24So the Lord repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25With the faithful you prove yourself faithful, with the blameless you prove yourself blameless,
26with the pure you prove yourself pure; but with the crooked you prove yourself shrewd.
27For you rescue an oppressed people, but you humble those with haughty eyes.
28 Lord, you light my lamp; my God illuminates my darkness.
29With you I can attack a barricade, and with my God I can leap over a wall.
30God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
31For who is God besides the Lord? And who is a rock? Only our God.
32God—he clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect.
33He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and sets me securely on the heights.
34He trains my hands for war; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You have given me the shield of your salvation; your right hand upholds me, and your humility exalts me.
36You make a spacious place beneath me for my steps, and my ankles do not give way.
37I pursue my enemies and overtake them; I do not turn back until they are wiped out.
38I crush them, and they cannot get up; they fall beneath my feet.
39You have clothed me with strength for battle; you subdue my adversaries beneath me.
40You have made my enemies retreat before me; I annihilate those who hate me.
41They cry for help, but there is no one to save them — they cry to the Lord, but he does not answer them.
42I pulverize them like dust before the wind; I trample them like mud in the streets.
43You have freed me from the feuds among the people; you have appointed me the head of nations; a people I had not known serve me.
44Foreigners submit to me cringing; as soon as they hear they obey me.
45Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their fortifications.
46The Lord lives—blessed be my rock! The God of my salvation is exalted.
47God—he grants me vengeance and subdues peoples under me.
48He frees me from my enemies. You exalt me above my adversaries; you rescue me from violent men.
49Therefore I will give thanks to you among the nations, Lord; I will sing praises about your name.
50He gives great victories to his king; he shows loyalty to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.
New Living Translation
Chapter 12
1 Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! 2Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts. 3May the Lord cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues. 4They say, 'We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own — who can stop us?'
5The Lord replies, 'I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.'
6The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.
7Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation,
8even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.
Chapter 13
1O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? 2How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, 'We have defeated him!' Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
5But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.
2The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.
3But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!
4Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord.
5Terror will grip them, for God is with those who obey him.
6The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the Lord will protect his people.
Chapter 15
1Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? 2Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. 3Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. 4Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. 5Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
2I said to the Lord, 'You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.'
3The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!
4Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods.
5Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.
6The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!
7I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
8I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
9No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.
10For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
11You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Chapter 17
1O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips. 2Declare me innocent, for you see those who do right.
3You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say.
4I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
5My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.
6I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.
7Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.
8Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
9Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me.
10They are without pity. Listen to their boasting!
11They track me down and surround me, watching for the chance to throw me to the ground.
12They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart — like young lions hiding in ambush.
13Arise, O Lord! Stand against them, and bring them to their knees! Rescue me from the wicked with your sword!
14By the power of your hand, O Lord, destroy those who look to this world for their reward. But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones. May their children have plenty, leaving an inheritance for their descendants.
15Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.
Chapter 18
1I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 2The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. 3I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.
4The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.
5The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.
6But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.
7Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger.
8Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
9He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
10Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.
11He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.
12Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him and rained down hail and burning coals.
13The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals.
14He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; great bolts of lightning flashed, and they were confused.
15Then at your command, O Lord, at the blast of your breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.
16He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.
17He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
18They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me.
19He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.
20The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.
21For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
22I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees.
23I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.
24The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence.
25To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.
26To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
27You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.
28You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
29In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.
30God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
31For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?
32God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.
33He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
34He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
35You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great.
36You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.
37I chased my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until they were conquered.
38I struck them down so they could not get up; they fell beneath my feet.
39You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
40You placed my foot on their necks. I have destroyed all who hated me.
41They called for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
42I ground them as fine as dust in the wind. I swept them into the gutter like dirt.
43You gave me victory over my accusers. You appointed me ruler over nations; people I don’t even know now serve me.
44As soon as they hear of me, they submit; foreign nations cringe before me.
45They all lose their courage and come trembling from their strongholds.
46The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!
47He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he subdues the nations under me
48and rescues me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents.
49For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.
50You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever.
English Standard Version
Chapter 12
1 Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. 2Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, 4those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?" 5"Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise," says the Lord; "I will place him in the safety for which he longs." 6 The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. 7You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. 8On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.Chapter 13
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, 4 lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him," lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. 5But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.Chapter 14
1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 2The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. 4Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord? 5There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. 6You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge. 7Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.Chapter 15
1O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? 2He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; 3who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.Chapter 16
1Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." 3As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. 4The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. 5The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. 7I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. 8 I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 9Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 10For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. 11You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.Chapter 17
1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! 2From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! 3You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. 5My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. 6I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. 7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. 8Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, 9from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. 10 They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. 11They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. 12He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. 13Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, 14from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants. 15As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.Chapter 18
1I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 4 The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; 5 the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. 7Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. 8Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. 9He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. 10He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. 11He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. 12Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. 13The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. 14And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. 15Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. 16He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. 17He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 18They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. 19He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. 20The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. 21For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. 23I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt. 24So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 25With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; 26with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. 27For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. 28For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. 29For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 30This God — his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 31For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? — 32the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. 33He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. 34He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. 36You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. 37I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed. 38I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet. 39For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. 40You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed. 41 They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them. 42I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets. 43You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. 44As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me. 45 Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses. 46The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation — 47the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, 48who rescued me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence. 49 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name. 50Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.New International Version
2Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.
3May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue—
4those who say, "By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?"
5"Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise," says the Lord. "I will protect them from those who malign them."
6And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.
7You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.
2How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4and my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.
Chapter 14
1For the director of music. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. 2The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
4Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord.
5But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.
7Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Chapter 15
1A psalm of David. Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? 2The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; 3whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; 4who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;Chapter 16
1A miktam of David. Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. 2I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." 3I say of the holy people who are in the land, "They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight."
4Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.
5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
8I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,
10because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
11You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
2Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.
3Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.
4Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded.
5My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.
6I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
7Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.
8Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
9from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
10They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.
11They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover.
13Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
14By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones.
15As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
2The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.
4The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
6In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
7The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.
8Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.
9He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.
10He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.
14He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
16He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
17He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.
19He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
20The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
21For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God.
22All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
23I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
24The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
27You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
28You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
29With your help I can advance against a troop ; with my God I can scale a wall.
30As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
31For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
32It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
33He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.
34He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.
36You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
37I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
39You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.
40You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.
41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the Lord, but he did not answer.
42I beat them as fine as windblown dust; I trampled them like mud in the streets.
43You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me,
44foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
New King James Version
